August 10, 2007

• Almost got scammed!

  Jelly, Jelly's coworker, and I were just outside of the MoMA, walking on the sidewalk when I VERY SLIGHTLY bump a man.  I turn around to find that his food is now spilled all over the sidewalk.  It's a mess of chicken and noodles.

  
  

  I think to myself  "I barely even nudged the guy!" but now the guy and his partner are making a scene... "OH no, that's my DINNER right there... that cost me $12!"... etc, etc...

  
  

  Not knowing what to say, I say "sorry.  okay, we can go and get your some more food". He says "no, no, I can't walk.. My leg is hurting" and meanwhile, his friend is muttering "just give us the money and we'll go buy it ourselves".  In the meantime, he's scooping the food back up into the container. Jelly gets involved, asking "where did you get it?  come 'on, we can go together and get you some more food"... but the guys refuse.

  
  

  Suddenly, out of nowhere, a guy in a polo shirt comes out and says "hey guys, let's not make a scene" and pulls out $10, which he gives to the guys. We walk away.

  
  

  Jelly informs me that this was a classic scam and thank God the two of them were there with me, 'cause I totally would've fallen for it!  He said he's almost been scammed before in Times Square - someone tries to accuse him of breaking their glasses.

  
  

  Now I think that it's really ridonk that people pull these scams, but I can just imagine some tourists (or, ahem, some nice and compassionate transplanted New Yorkers) falling for this. Maybe these guys thought we were tourists, but after they found us being less-than-sympathetic, they gave up a bit.  We're still a bit confused about the guy in the polo shirt -- was he part of the scam?  If so, how?  Where did he come from, anyway?

  • 12:48 am
  • 6 Comments